ARTISTS
Byung Hoon Choi: Voice of Silence
Friedman Benda is pleased to announce Voice of Silence, the fourth solo exhibition by Korean artist and master craftsman Byung Hoon Choi, opening on March 27th. Renowned for his work that draws on Zen Buddhist and Taoist philosophies of balance, as well as Korean Dolmen from the Archaic period, Choi now presents a new body of work that deepens his explorations of stillness and silence.
Merging traditional Korean craftsmanship with contemporary design, Choi uses stone and wood to seek a form of realism that excludes artificiality and embraces natural beauty. The exhibition will feature new wooden works inspired by the classical scholar ethos of the Joseon Dynasty. Shown for the first time outside of Korea, these cabinets pay homage to Choi鈥檚 Korean cultural heritage, particularly its emphasis on natural beauty and minimal design. By using wood and natural stone bases to evoke shapes and patterns found in nature, he offers a contemplative vision of the quiet grace and unadorned beauty of the natural world.
The basalt works embody a compelling dialogue between the ancient, weathered surface of the stone鈥攆ormed millions of years ago鈥攁nd the contemporary polish brought by the artist鈥檚 hand. Describing these pieces as 鈥渟ilent messages,鈥� Choi views them as a meditation on both the physical properties of the stone and the geological evolution of Earth itself. His ongoing use of the title Afterimage of Beginning reflects this concept. As he states, 鈥渟tone is a lingering afterimage of the origin,鈥� and these works invite the viewer to pause, contemplate, and experience a moment of stillness within the vastness of existence.
鈥淭he materials I use, whether it鈥檚 the cool hardness of basalt or the warmth of wood, each carries its own history and energy,鈥� Choi explains. 鈥淢y process is about finding harmony in their contrasts and celebrating the quiet beauty that emerges from these natural forms.鈥� These new works are grounded in the raw, elemental qualities of natural materials; highlighting nature鈥檚 inherent beauty and finding their balance through the artist鈥檚 intervention.
A reflection of Choi鈥檚 personal philosophy of harmony鈥攁 鈥渕iddle-way,鈥� as he calls it鈥�, these works seek balance and evoke a sense of stillness and silence. It is through a culturally and philosophically rich understanding of beauty that Byung Hoon Choi masterfully accomplishes the seemingly impossible: giving silence a distinct voice.
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Friedman Benda is pleased to announce Voice of Silence, the fourth solo exhibition by Korean artist and master craftsman Byung Hoon Choi, opening on March 27th. Renowned for his work that draws on Zen Buddhist and Taoist philosophies of balance, as well as Korean Dolmen from the Archaic period, Choi now presents a new body of work that deepens his explorations of stillness and silence.
Merging traditional Korean craftsmanship with contemporary design, Choi uses stone and wood to seek a form of realism that excludes artificiality and embraces natural beauty. The exhibition will feature new wooden works inspired by the classical scholar ethos of the Joseon Dynasty. Shown for the first time outside of Korea, these cabinets pay homage to Choi鈥檚 Korean cultural heritage, particularly its emphasis on natural beauty and minimal design. By using wood and natural stone bases to evoke shapes and patterns found in nature, he offers a contemplative vision of the quiet grace and unadorned beauty of the natural world.
The basalt works embody a compelling dialogue between the ancient, weathered surface of the stone鈥攆ormed millions of years ago鈥攁nd the contemporary polish brought by the artist鈥檚 hand. Describing these pieces as 鈥渟ilent messages,鈥� Choi views them as a meditation on both the physical properties of the stone and the geological evolution of Earth itself. His ongoing use of the title Afterimage of Beginning reflects this concept. As he states, 鈥渟tone is a lingering afterimage of the origin,鈥� and these works invite the viewer to pause, contemplate, and experience a moment of stillness within the vastness of existence.
鈥淭he materials I use, whether it鈥檚 the cool hardness of basalt or the warmth of wood, each carries its own history and energy,鈥� Choi explains. 鈥淢y process is about finding harmony in their contrasts and celebrating the quiet beauty that emerges from these natural forms.鈥� These new works are grounded in the raw, elemental qualities of natural materials; highlighting nature鈥檚 inherent beauty and finding their balance through the artist鈥檚 intervention.
A reflection of Choi鈥檚 personal philosophy of harmony鈥攁 鈥渕iddle-way,鈥� as he calls it鈥�, these works seek balance and evoke a sense of stillness and silence. It is through a culturally and philosophically rich understanding of beauty that Byung Hoon Choi masterfully accomplishes the seemingly impossible: giving silence a distinct voice.
Artists on show
